Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) has recently announced that it is set to invest funds in the large-scale production of locally developed loitering munitions, local news sites reported, since the quantity of kamikaze drones obtained from the United States is considered insufficient for safeguarding the nation against a potential Chinese threat.
The U.S. State Department on June 18 approved the sale of 720 Switchblade 300 Anti-Personnel and Anti-Armor Loitering Missile Systems and 291 ALTIUS 600M-V unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to Taiwan.
Despite this, a military source revealed that an internal assessment determined the current number of attack drones provided by the U.S. remains inadequate to meet Taiwan’s defense requirements amidst escalating Chinese military threats, as reported by Liberty Times.
As a result, Taiwan will commence the mass production of domestically manufactured attack drones. The Type-1 and Type-2 kamikaze drones are slated to be funded through the Ministry of National Defense’s 2025 budget.
Furthermore, the production schedule for Chien Hsiang anti-radiation drones, funded under a special budget aimed at enhancing maritime and aerial combat capabilities, is set to be finalized by 2025.
Reports indicate that the National Chung-Shan Institute of Science and Technology (NCSIST) is actively engaged in enhancing the performance of the Chien Hsiang series.
The upgraded versions are planned for incremental production and integration into the regular annual budget.
According to the source, the Chien Hsiang drones are capable of targeting and attacking enemy radar stations and shipborne radars. Meanwhile, the Type-1 and Type-2 drones will primarily serve troops in anti-armor roles.
The Type-1 drone, developed by NCSIST, is tailored for individual soldiers and shares specifications akin to the Switchblade 300. It boasts rapid deployment and user-friendly operation. NCSIST data indicates the Type-1 has a flight duration of approximately 15 minutes and can be guided over a control range exceeding 10 km.
The Type-2 drone surpasses the Type-1 in flight duration. It is equipped for beyond-visual-range reconnaissance and strikes, employing imagery, infrared, and microwave systems for precise targeting. The system supports versatile and mobile launch methods, including multi-launch devices for swarm attacks that can be mounted on ships or vehicles.